How to Get Money Out of Clutter as a Child

Your children want more toys and more stuff to play with, but their room and your house is already overcrowded. Luckily, your children can get money to buy more stuff as they rid the house of excess clutter.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Start just before a birthday or Christmas. Tell your child they're about to get more stuff and need to get rid of some of the clutter. Go through the toys and get rid of anything your child doesn't play with.
2. Make your child make the decisions. Depending on the age of your child, have them fill up a large cardboard box or put the toys in a separate area. Remind your child the goal is to get money out of these toys as a motivator if they're struggling to decide what toys to get rid of.
3. Encourage your child to have a garage sale. If age-appropriate, have them set the prices and make the signs for the neighborhood. Stick close during the garage sale in case your child needs extra help, but if your child wants the money, they should be running the garage sale.
4. Show your child how to post their toys on websites such as eBay or Craigslist. Make them take the pictures and if age-appropriate, have them do most of the work. Help them with the packaging, but make them be in charge of shipping their toys around the country.
5. Take a percentage of the money if you're doing most of the work. Take 20 percent off the top to teach your child a valuable financial lesson.

Tips & Warnings

• Begin with just a drawer, a closet or just a shelf if your child seems overwhelmed. Go through the drawer or shelf completely before moving on.